Titanium Dioxide Synthesis from Ilmenite via Organic Phase Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing titanium dioxide from ilmenite ore involve high energy consumption, impurity challenges, and difficulty in achieving high purity due to the product's presence in the aqueous phase, necessitating more efficient and high-yield preparation technologies.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of hydrochloric acid to dissolve ilmenite, followed by multi-stage extraction and purification with specific extractants to transfer titanium ions to an organic phase, where titanium dioxide is directly synthesized, utilizing controlled pressure, temperature, and oxidizing agents to achieve a high-purity titanium-rich organic phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve ilmenite and titanium dioxide is produced in aqueous phase, then the dissolution rate improves, but the purity of titanium dioxide deteriorates due to impurity contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction principle by transferring titanium ions from aqueous phase to organic phase using specific extractants (such as TBP, TOA, or P204). This separation allows impurities to remain in the aqueous phase while titanium is concentrated in the organic phase, thereby improving purity while maintaining dissolution efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the purification process into multiple stages: first dissolution of ilmenite in hydrochloric acid, then extraction of titanium ions into organic phase, followed by separation and hydrolysis. This multi-stage approach allows each step to optimize for its specific function, achieving both high dissolution rate and high purity
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional chlorination or sulfuric acid method is used to prepare titanium tetrachloride or titanyl sulfate, then the raw material preparation is established, but high energy consumption is required for distillation and impurity removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter by performing the synthesis reaction directly in the organic phase rather than in aqueous phase followed by drying. This parameter change eliminates the need for high-energy distillation and drying steps, reducing energy consumption while maintaining product quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses organic extractants as intermediaries to transfer titanium ions from aqueous to organic phase. This intermediary approach enables direct synthesis in organic phase, avoiding traditional high-energy purification steps while achieving the desired product
3Manufacturing precision
If multi-stage extraction and purification is performed to achieve high purity, then the purity of titanium dioxide improves, but the device complexity and process steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the extraction and purification steps into a unified organic phase synthesis process. By combining titanium ion extraction with the subsequent synthesis reaction in the same organic phase system, the process reduces the number of separate devices and操作步骤, lowering complexity while maintaining high purity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly enhances the purity of titanium dioxide, improves ilmenite dissolution rates, reduces production costs, and achieves high-yield titanium dioxide with minimal impurities, exceeding 99.99% purity and reducing contaminating metals to below 2 ppm.
Implementation Method 1
adding the hydrochloric acid and the ilmenite to a reactor at a certain acid/mineral mass ratio... so that the pressure P in the system was higher than the atmospheric pressure, maintaining the system for reaction
Implementation Method 2
adding an oxidizing agent thereto for stirring... followed by filter-pressing to obtain a filtrate, i.e. a hydrochloric acid solution A0 containing titanium ferric ion
Implementation Method 3
titanium ions are transferred to an organic phase by means of an effective titanium extractant to obtain a high-purity and titanium-rich organic phase
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for directly synthesizing titanium dioxide from a titanium-rich organic phase prepared from ilmenite, and more particularly to a method in which a titanium-rich acidolysis solution is obtained by an efficient ore dissolving technology, titanium ions are transferred to the organic phase by means of an effective titanium extractant to obtain a high-purity and titanium-rich organic phase, and then the titanium dioxide is directly synthesized in the organic phase. With this method, the dissolution rate of ilmenite can be effectively improved, the process flow is shortened and production costs are reduced, and titanium dioxide with high yield and high quality is obtained.